The Range: The Tucson Weekly's Daily Dispatch

A Quick Round-Up of Various Food Happenings Around Town

After many months of hectic restaurant action around Tucson, things have slowed down a bit this month. But there are still quite a few interesting little food-related tidbits going on across the city.

Out west, it appears Taco Giro is opening a location in the old El Sabroso Oakwood Grill location at 610 N. Grande Ave. Taco Giro has another location out on East 22nd Avenue, where it’s been serving up killer Mexican eats for a long time.

Not far away, at Dragoon Brewing Co. at 1859 W. Grant Road, there are also great things happening. We stopped in the other day and found a bunch of 55 gallon wooden kegs full of beer in the corner of the tasting room, which is part of the microbrewery’s new beer-conditioning program. They also had a small keg behind the counter where they let the beer soak up the flavor of various hops for long periods of time. The guy working said the place is now producing specialty beers for 1702 as well.

Heading east, Tucson’s second Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers has opened at 7120 E. Broadway Blvd. Company officials say they plan to open more locations in Tucson before long as well.

A new place called Café Francais and Patisserie is opening in Plaza Palomino at 2970 N. Swan Road. We haven’t heard much about the place, but it has started hiring so the opening can’t be far off.

Also out east, a place called Elle Mae’s Café has opened in the former Jethro’s Café spot at 8585 E. Broadway Blvd.

Downtown is in sort of a holding period when it comes to new places to eat and drink, but that’s only because numerous restaurants are under construction. Saint House, Diablo Burger, Proper, a new restaurant at 50 E. Broadway Blvd. and the second location of Thunder Canyon Brewery are all in the works down there.

Still hungry? We’ve also heard that the Sawmill Run Restaurant up on Mount Lemmon is opening a location down in the city. The restaurant has had an excellent first few months in business and I haven’t heard a single bad thing about the food up there. We’re still digging for details on that one, but have verified that a second location — and perhaps more — are in the works.